Stake sharpener



Sept. 18, 1934.

w. T. LANE STAKE SHARPENER Filed Au 21, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, I934 uurrso ss 2 Claims.

This invention pertains to devices for sharpening wood stakes to be driven into the ground, such as are used by surveyors, civil engineers, gardeners, tent makers and other persons and for I such purposes where wood stakes are required and used.

The main object of the invention is to provide a means whereby wood stakes can be sharpened more quickly and perfectly than by the hand methods heretofore used. A further object is to provide a means by which wood stakes can be sharpened at less expense and with less hand labor than heretofore required.

I attain these and other objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a top view of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side View of Fig. 2 from the line 33.

Similar parts are indicated by similar characters in each of the three views.

I-ieretoiore, wood stakes have been sharpened usually by hand with a hatchet or with a hand ax; When large quantities are required, they are sometimes sharpened in wood working shops by means of a buzz saw or other machinery. My invention comprises a hand operative device that can be carried from place to place, be set up and used wherever wood stakes are required. Its being portable makes it a practical device.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the wood stake sharpening mechanism is mounted and operated on a structure composed of wood, each piece being approximately two inches thick. The base piece 1, may be 2 X 4 inches in size and of a suitable length as indicated. On the side of this piece 1 is nailed or fixed an upright piece 2 on which the stakes to be sharpened are to be held in position. At right angles with this piece 2 is fixed the third piece 3. This piece 3 is designed to be lug-bolted to a fixed object, such as a post firmly set in the ground, to the corner of a building, or to any fixed object. It can be set at any height from the ground most suitable to the operator.

The mechanical parts of the wood stake sharpener comprise a cutting blade 4 mounted on a hand lever bar 5 with its fulcrum mounted on a pivot bolt at 6. The cutting blade and hand lever bar operates up and down between two parallel vertical guides '7-7 made of rolled iron bars of suitable size and strength. The downward stroke of the cutting blade 4 is controlled by an adjustable stop in the form of a screwthreaded stem and nut 8 mounted in an angle bracket 9. This stop prevents the cutting blade contacting a babbit metal plate 10 which is bedded on the wood base piece 1 to prevent wear from the wood stakes when being sharpened thereon.

The upright wood piece 2 is provided with inclined adjustable angle iron brackets 11 and 12. It will be seen that these brackets are slotted and can be readily adjusted to the size of the wood stake to be sharpened by means of belts with butterfly nuts. The brackets 11 and 12 are designed to support a wood stake in the exact position required to be sharpened as indicated by the broken lines 13.

The upright piece 2 is provided with a number of extra bolt holes 14 in which the bracket 11 can be set for supporting shorter stakes than is indicated on the drawing. It will be seen that with the use of these brackets 11 and 12, various sizes and lengths of wood stakes can be sharpened.

It will be seen that the stake sharpener shown on the drawing is designed to be operated with the right hand. Now to sharpen a wood stake, the lever bar 5 will be raised up to the top of the guides '7 and with the left hand a stake is set in position on the inclined angle brackets 11 and 12 and thus held until the right hand thrusts the cutting blade down till the stop 8 is contacted. It is then again raised and the stake is turned one-fourth round and a second cut is. made. This operation is continued till the fourth cut is made and the stake is then completely sharpened. The work is perfectly done when square stakes are sharpened and, with practice, round stakes can be sharpened with equal nicety. Each stake will be sharpened to a true point alike.

It will be noted that the cutting blade 4 can be taken out to be sharpened by removing the pivot bolt 6 and slipping it and its lever bar free of the guides 7. And further, the device can thus be taken apart and be conveniently carried from place to place as may be desired. The invention is believed to be novel in that it is simple and economical in construction and practical in operation.

It is to be observed that I do not limit myself to the use of wood pieces 1, 2 and 3 for the base structure of the invention. As an article of manufacture, it may be made of iron or steel with an angle iron for the piece 1 and of rolled iron plates for the pieces 2 and 3, all to be put together after the usual manner of shop practice in construction.

It is to be further observed that the invention can be used to point the ends of Wood pickets for Wood fences and the like, the brackets 11 and 12 being adjusted to secure a sharp or a blunt point as may be desired on the top end of the picket.

Having described my invention, I claim:-

1. In a stake sharpening device of the class described, a three piece structure comprising a horizontal base member, a vertical member fixed thereto and an anchoring member fixed at right angles with said vertical member, a vertically reciprocating cutting blade, said blade mounted on an operative hand lever, the fulcrum end of said hand lever pivotalls attached to said anchoring member, and adjustable bracket means on said vertical member to support wood stakes at an angle with said cutting blade.

2. In a portable stake sharpening device of the class described, a structure comprising a horizontal base member, a vertical member fixed thereto, an anchoring member fixed at right angles with said vertical member, a vertically reciprocating cutting blade mounted on an operative hand lever, the fulcrum of said lever pivotally attached to said anchoring member, means on said vertical member for supporting wood stakes at; an inclined position with respect to the line of cut of said blade, so that they will be cut to a point by said blade, as set forth and described.

WILLIAM T. LANE. 

